Anderson comments on impact of digital technology on children’s development
Daniel Anderson, Psychology, commented in a recent article on both the positive and negative knowledge children gain from digital technology. The Atlantic
Bradley interviewed on climate change debate
Raymond Bradley, Geosciences and Director of the Climate System Research Center, was interviewed on how he sees the debate over climate change in both the political and scientific realms, and how to address climate change. Azocleantech.com
Auer wins Elton Prize from British Ecological Society
Sonya Auer, a postdoctoral researcher in Environmental Conservation, was awarded the Elton Prize, one of just five British Ecological Society (BES) young investigator awards given annually to recognize the best research papers in the society’s journal by early-career scientists. British Ecological Society, Journal of Animal Ecology, News Release
Lerman’s study says homeowners’ associations can support native species
Susannah Lerman, Environmental Conservation, suggests in a new study that despite construction, well-managed residential developments like homeowners’ assications can support native wildlife in suburbs. News Release
Rotello among recipients of CVIP Technology Development Awards
Vincent Rotello, Chemistry, is a recipient of a $25,000 award from the Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) Technology Development Fund from the UMass President’s Office, honoring groundbreaking faculty inventions. News Release
Spencer interviewed on PBS’s “Connecting Point”
Rebecca Spencer, Psychology, discussed her sleep research on the PBS show “Connecting Point.” WGBY
Grupen uses robot to achieve significant improvements for stroke patient’s therapy
New STEM Diversity Institute receives $1.6m NIH grant to support graduate students’ biomedical research
The newly-formed Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Diversity Institute has received a four-year, $1.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to fund one-year internships for graduate students in biomedical research. News Release
Lovley’s research identifies Geobacter’s key components for conducting electricity
Derek Lovley, Microbiology, says the bacterium Geobacter sulferreducens’s components for conducting electricity have been identified with genetics-based research. Innovations Report
Lovley’s research finds bacterium functions like biological wires to conduct electricity
Derek Lovley, Microbiology, is lead author of new research, published in mBio, that finds electricity-conducting bacterial nanowires of the bacterium Geobacter sulfurreducens require a core of aromatic amino acids to function like biological wires. Science Daily, Phys.org, Bio-Medicine, ScienceBlog.com, Nanowerk.com, Azonano.com, Product Design & Development
Zoeller comments about Arctic Northern Europe’s exposure to pollutants
Thomas Zoeller, Biology, commented in a recent story about Northern Europe’s Arctic region’s exposure to high levels of pollutants, and how it might affect the region’s people given their genetic traits. Science Daily, Phys.org.com
Zoeller says endocrine disruptors ought to be banned
Thomas Zoeller, Biology, says scientific research shows that endocrine disruptors have a negative impact on human health and should be banned. WSHM-TV
Whitbourne says shynes is important to overcome through focus on positive qualities
Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Psychology, says shy people need to accept that it is part of who they are, and that to succeed in social situations they need to focus on their positive qualities. US News & World Report
STEM Institute at UMass Amherst receives $39,780 grant from state
The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education Insitute at UMass Amherst, which manages the Pioneer Vallley STEM Network, has received a $39,780 Massachusetts Department of Higher Education grant. News Release
Middle school girls get lessons in robotics at Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center
Middle school girls from across western Massachusetts met at the new Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center in Holyoke to learn how to build and program LEGO robots as part of UMass Amherst’s “Girls Connect” program. Springfield Republican
Hardy awarded Fulbright to work at Pasteur Institute
Jeanne Hardy, Chemistry, has been awarded a Fulbright Fellowship and will spend her sabbatical in France at the Pasteur Institute, where she will be working with Professor Muriel Delepierre.
Migacheva selected 2012 James Marshall Public Policy Fellow
Katya Migacheva ’12 PhD, Psychology, was selected as the 2012 James Marshall Public Policy Fellow by the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues. The fellowship allows her to conduct two years of postdoctoral work in Washington, D.C., with the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission. Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission - Congress
Normark proposes improved standards for identifying insect species
Ben Normark, Biology, along with evolutionary biologists from the American Museum of Natural History and the Biodiversity Institute in Guelph, Ontario, have proposed improved standards for identifying insect species in the latest edition of the journal ZooKeys. ZooKeys, Science Daily
Decker says Omega-3 fats decrease odds of sudden heart attacks
Eric Decker, Food Science, says Omega-3 fats decrease the odds of sudden cardiac arrest in those who have already suffered a heart attack. Parade Magazine
iCons gives students interdisciplinary skills for real-world problems
iCons or Integrated Concentration in Science is an interdisciplinary science program that brings together undergraduates majoring in science and engineering to tackle real-world problems. The iCons curriculum integrates scientific expertise across disciplines, giving students collaborative learning experiences, discovery-based projects, leadership development, and multi-disciplinary analytical skills.
UMass partners with BASF, Harvard, MIT to produce materials
UMass Amherst, with leading PIs Todd Emrick and Alan Lesser, Polymer Science and Engineering, has entered into a strategic partnership with BASF, the world’s largest chemical company, Harvard, and MIT to develop advanced materials for the automotive, building, construction and energy industries. Automotive World, MarketWire.com, Yahoo! News, AfterMarketNews.com, Mfrtech.com, Green Car Congress
Whitbourne says intense sports fans only have a problem when they shut out all else
Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Psychology, commented in a New York Times story about rabid sports fans, saying intense fans only create a problem when they shut out other things in their life. New York Times
Chien gains new insight into protein synthesis and degradation
High attendance at Women in Engineering and Computing Career Day Conference
The annual Women in Engineering and Computing Career Day Conference on March 4 at UMass Amherst drew over 300 students, teachers, and guidance counselors from across the state. WGGB, News Release
CNS undergrads win honors at NURDS conference
Nine CNS students attended the Northeast Undergraduate Research and Development Symposium, presenting research projects to their peers from 38 universities. In attendance were senior Drew Morrison (Philip Starks' behavioral ecology lab); junior Soren Hough (Jennifer Ross’ biophysics lab); junior Bingquian Zheng (Paul Dubin’s biochemistry lab); junior Marie Calapa (Alison Crocker’s physics lab); sophomore Adam Zec (Andrea Pocar’s physics lab); and senior Gary Forster, juniors John Karlen and Nick Mangini, and sophomore Kirsten Randle (Laura Cadonati’s physics lab). Hough won best poster presentation for "Using DNA Origami to Evaluate Motor Protein Binding Patterns." Randle, Forster, and Zec each received honorable mentions for formal presentations on their work on the international DarkSide dark matter detector project.
